It is funny because back then you rode whatever bike you had as a "scrambler" meaning off road, even if it had no rear suspension.

That's true but I don't think that Warren Webber & friends would have called the bikes that they were shown riding here scramblers.

Quote:

Originally Posted by JagLite

Actually, before motocross became popular there were lots of scrambles races.

Yup. ... "Motocross? WTF is that?"

Manufacturer's Scramblers: Generally just high pipes, lower gearing, knobbies or semi knobby tires & maybe a tad more suspension travel. Not many differences from some of the 'standard' bikes of the time.

That's true but I don't think that Warren Webber & friends would have called the bikes that they were shown riding here scramblers.

I would guess you are correct sir!
They wouldn't call them adventure bikes either.
They had bikes and they rode them where they wanted to go.

I think the term scrambler was used for bikes that were mostly or only ridden or raced off road.
Bikes that had little or no street equipment.
My father's Matchless "scrambler" was street legal but only had a license plate.
No muffler, mirrors, headlight, etc. He had a tail light but it didn't work.

Same thing with a "desert sled", it was more a term riders used to describe how their bike was used.

Quote:

. ... "Motocross? WTF is that?"

Manufacturer's Scramblers: Generally just high pipes, lower gearing, knobbies or semi knobby tires & maybe a tad more suspension travel. Not many differences from some of the 'standard' bikes of the time.

Absolutely!
They were neat bikes
They looked so special compared with the standard bike.

__________________Attitude ~The difference between
Ordeal and Adventure James

this is my buddy Don O'Brien, circa late 1950's. He's wearing a shit eating grin because of his brand new bike, 950 lbs., vacuum tube communication gear, and kick starter. He and his buddy John were real addicts, sounds like they spent as much time riding for fun as riding for work.